A5041343908- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Porphyrin Metabolism and Disorders
- Biochemical and Molecular Research
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Chemical and Physical Properties in Aqueous Solutions
- Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Research
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Folate and B Vitamins Research
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Dental Research and COVID-19
- Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
- Listeria monocytogenes in Food Safety
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Neonatal Health and Biochemistry
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
Northeastern University
2015-2025
Indiana University Bloomington
2019-2024
Brigham and Women's Hospital
2010-2012
Harvard University
2010-2012
ABSTRACT AvR2-V10.3 is an engineered R-type pyocin that specifically kills Escherichia coli O157, enteric pathogen a major cause of food-borne diarrheal disease. New therapeutics to counteract E. O157 are needed, as currently available antibiotics can exacerbate the consequences infection. We show here orogastric administration prevent or ameliorate O157:H7-induced diarrhea and intestinal inflammation in infant rabbit model infection when compound administered either postexposure...
ABSTRACT Biofilm formation by Bacillus subtilis is triggered an unusually simple environmental sensing mechanism. Certain serine codons, the four TCN codons (N for A, T, C, or G), in gene biofilm repressor SinR caused lowered translation and subsequent induction during transition from exponential to stationary growth. Global ribosome profiling showed that ribosomes pause when translating UCN (U T on mRNA) mRNA, but not two AGC/AGU codons. We proposed a codon hierarchy (AGC/AGT vs TCN) genes...
Escherichia coli O157:H7 causes food and waterborne enteric infections that can result in hemorrhagic colitis life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome. Intimate adherence of the bacteria to intestinal epithelial cells is mediated by intimin, but E. also possess several other putative adhesins, including curli two operons encode long polar fimbriae (Lpf). To assess importance Lpf for colonization, we performed competition experiments between an isogenic Δ lpfA1 lpfA2 double mutant infant...
Biofilm formation and surface attachment in multiple Alphaproteobacteria is driven by unipolar polysaccharide (UPP) adhesins. The pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens produces a UPP adhesin, which regulated the intracellular second messenger cyclic diguanylate monophosphate (c-di-GMP). Prior studies revealed that DcpA, cyclase-phosphodiesterase, crucial control of production attachment. DcpA PruR, protein with distant similarity to enzymatic domains known coordinate molybdopterin cofactor...
In Bacillus subtilis, biosynthesis of exopolysaccharide (EPS), a key biofilm matrix component, is regulated at the posttranslational level by bacterial tyrosine kinase (BY-kinase) EpsB. EpsB, in turn, relies on cognate activator EpsA for activation. A concerted role second BY-kinase-kinase pair, PtkA and TkmA, respectively formation was also indicated previous studies. However, exact functions TkmA remain unclear. this work, we show that contributes to largely independently kinase, PtkA. We...
Biofilm development in
ABSTRACT Novel approaches targeting the host's immune response to treat Staphylococcus aureus infections have significant potential improve clinical outcomes, in particular during infection with antibiotic-resistant strains. The hyaluronic acid-binding peptide (HABP) PEP35 was assessed for its ability S. using a clinically relevant murine model of surgical wound infection. demonstrated no direct antimicrobial activity against range antibiotic-susceptible and isolates . However, when this...
Pterins are ubiquitous biomolecules with diverse functions including roles as cofactors, pigments, and redox mediators. Recently, a novel pterin-dependent signaling pathway that controls biofilm formation was identified in the plant pathogen,
Polymicrobial biofilms are ubiquitous, and the complex interspecies interactions within them cryptic. We discovered chemical foundation of antagonistic in a model dual-species biofilm which Pseudomonas aeruginosa inhibits formation Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Three known siderophores produced by P. (pyoverdine, pyochelin, dihydroaeruginoic acid) were each capable inhibiting formation. Surprisingly, mutant that was incapable producing these still secreted an antibiofilm metabolite. this...
Abstract Biofilm formation by Bacillus subtilis is triggered an unusually simple environmental sensing mechanism. Certain serine codons, the four TCN codons (N for A, T, C, or G), in gene biofilm repressor SinR caused lowered translation and subsequent induction during transition from exponential to stationary growth. Global ribosome profiling showed that ribosomes pause when translating UCN (U T on mRNA) mRNA, but not two AGC/AGU codons. We proposed a codon hierarchy (AGC/AGT vs TCN) genes...
A broad host range (BHR)-inducible T7 RNA polymerase system was developed, enabling induction with isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), similar to the Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3) protocol, but it is now applicable in a wide of bacteria. This allows for high protein yields and purification from diverse Gram-negative bacteria, including native host.
ABSTRACT Biofilm formation and surface attachment in multiple Alphaproteobacteria is driven by unipolar polysaccharide (UPP) adhesins. The pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens produces a UPP adhesin, which regulated the intracellular second messenger cyclic diguanylate monophosphate (cdGMP). Prior studies revealed that DcpA, cyclase-phosphodiesterase (DGC-PDE), crucial control of production attachment. DcpA PruR, protein with distant similarity to enzymatic domains known coordinate...
Biofilms are multicellular communities of bacteria embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix, and one the primary causes for hospital-acquired infections. Due to their complex nature, biofilms highly resistant antibiotics. As such, understanding how formed is important improving knowledge microbiology as well public health. The bacterium Bacillus subtilis able form under nutrient starved conditions. genetic regulation biofilm formation B. understood, but less clear role that...
ABSTRACT Biofilm development in Bacillus subtilis is regulated at multiple levels. While a number of known signals that trigger biofilm formation do so through the activation one or more sensory histidine kinases, it was recently discovered also coordinated by sensing intracellular metabolic signals, including serine starvation. Serine starvation causes ribosomes to pause on specific codons, leading decrease translation rate sinR , which encodes master repressor for matrix genes, and...
ABSTRACT A broad host range (BHR) inducible T7 RNA Polymerase system was developed, enabling induction with IPTG, similar to the Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3), but now applicable in a wide of bacteria. This allows for high protein yields and purification from diverse gram-negative bacteria including native host.